Livestock pen layout



May 19, 1953 J. R? MACDONALD LIVESTOCK PEN LAYOUT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1949 FigJ.

In ven tor Jalm R. Macdonald B y and y 19, 1953 J. R. MACDONALD 2,638,870

LIVESTOCK PEN LAYOUT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1949 Inventor Jo/m RQ Macdona/d Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' LIVESTOCK PEN LAYOUT John R. Macdonald, Fort Dodge, Iowa T Application December 27, 1949, Serial No. 135,133

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in livestock farm layouts and the method of arranging the same upon a suitable plot of land.

The primary object of this invention is to improve the sanitation of a livestock raising area and to save time and effort on the part of an operator in caring for livestock.

Another important object of this invention is to enable an operator to keep livestock evenly spaced upon a plot of ground and to be able to readily shift livestock from one particular selected area to another.

Another important object of this invention is to enable an operator to segregate particular groups of livestock according to age, sex, species or the like in such a manner that any two particular groups or components thereof may be intermingled as desired without interfering with the segregation of other groups.

Another object of this invention is to enable an attendant to feed and inspect all of the animals with an absolute minimum of movement on his part, and to provide a single watering system for all of the animals while the same are segregated. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a working space for the attendants communicable directly with each of the segregated groups of livestock and in which selected groups of livestock may be further segregated as desired for such operations as vaccinating, castrating, spraying or the like.

Still another object of this invention, in con-. formity with the foregoing objects, is to provide.

for drainage away from the working area and I the feeding area of the livestock and preventing bogginess of the entire livestock area.

A meritorious feature of this invention resides in the provision of a plurality of pens which radiate outwardly from a working area and each of which communicate by means of a gate with the working area.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the common means provided for dispensing water to each of the pens and the disposal of the feeders and shelter houses adjacent to pen gates communicating with the working area.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the hingedly connected gate sections in the work area which may be connected to a selected pair of partition fences for providing a segregated pocket within the working area and with each of the gate sections being swingable to open the pocket,

.55 is provided in the working area l8, and includes Figure 1 is a schematic topplan view of the livestock farm layout, showing the gate sections connected to adjacent partition fences and the end gate connecting the partition fences being shown in the open position;

Figure 2 is a top plan detail view of the .pen gate construction and showing the gate sections connected to the partition fences;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating particularly the hinged post construction. with concealed portions being shown in dottedoutline, and being taken upon the plane of the section line 3-4 of Figure 2 with the gate section removed; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view .of the means provided for hingedly connecting the gate sections together.

"Reference isnow made more particularly to' the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and in which a preferably rectangular plot of land is indicated by the numeral I 0.

The area I0 is enclosed by a fence 12 which will be of suitable construction to retain the type of livestock to be enclosed therein. A plurality of partition fences I4 of similar construction have their outer extremities at the closure fence [2 and they extend radially inwardly toward the center of the plot of land [0, terminating in space relationship from the center of the plot of land Ill upon the arc of 'a circle. The inner extremities of the partition fences [4 are connected by pen gates l'6 defininga circular working area or space 18 at the center of the plot l0. 7

Upon reference to Figure l of the drawings it will be readily apparent that the closure fence l2, the partition fences M, and the pen gates l6 define a pluralityof livestock pens 29 which radiate outwardly from the working area l8, being proterminate therewith, and access being had therebetween by means of the pen gates 16.

A gate construction indicated generally at 22 troughs 30 being of the type that are automaticaally self-filling in the preferred construction as will readily be understood. In addition; sincethis construction is especially well suitedfor. theraisring of pigs and hogs, each pen 20 is provided with a shelter house 32, a creep fe'eder iid having an:v

enclosing fence 36, and a main feeder 38,.the lat:.- ter of which includes in the preferred construction a feeder of the type such as that known underthe-trade name Vy-Tab-O-Latofldii. In addition; a gate 42 i-s provided in the clo'surefence- I2" to provide access lay-attendants to the working As shown clearly in Fi ure Sj'the pen gates in have straps secured to their endsby-means of fasteners it, Which-eXtend-fronr the end'of' the gate l6 and are twisted through a right anglead jacent-their outer-'endsand apertured to form an eye for receiving the hinge post dt which is suit ably'secured to the fence post 59 at the inner extremity of the partition fences M. Two sets of vertically spaced hinge postsid are-disposed upon substantially opposite sides of-the fence postsdll forhingedly supporting theadjacent pen gate 15'. Since-each=of the fence posts lift-aresimilarly constructed and opposite ends of each 'ofthe pen gates 1 6 are 'sim-ila. y= constructed-it will be readily apparentthat eachiofthe pen gates it" may be swung about-eitheroritstends as a pivot and inwardly 'oroutwardly rom -the pensv Zllfi'as desired. In the: preferred construction each of the gate sections 2 5 areconstructed substantially identical with the pengate Higiwhereby: adjacent gate sections-are hingedlyi connected together by means of the hinge pins 52 provided for-.this pur pose, as clearly shown-fin"Figure-'4; The fence posts! lifllareeachprovided with an additional set of vertically spaced hinge posts.-54.;.toz;which the free outer ends ofthe gate; construction..22 "may be," hingedln secured 'in: a manner" analogous to which the pen gates 'arerpi otedlthereto; It: wil'llbe evi'dentxby "this construction that. the. gate" construction 2 2 may be: secured to anytwo seieoted f pairs of posts 58, and as shown in Figure ZQthis willldefine :an additional" segregation pocketi 5t withintheWorking'arv The pocketvSB may be -opened by swinging thegate it or any -of'tliew gate. sections 2 by the simple expedient of either: removing: the pins 52: ogremoavingthe-gate sectiorr-24- from the hinged posts Ed as will be clearly obvious" from the drawings.

Although it is usuatly preferred thatthe worlc ing; area l 8 be disposed in the. geometric center of the: area llllin the event that the-area- Hi has lowspofsorhas arolhng contour, it'is'preferred'that the working area ldbelecated uporrth'e highest.

point.- in the field Fl the interests of adequate drainage from. the a-rear,: and. thearea of the pens-- 211 seeded in-isuita'ble legumes suchas: alfalfa and clovcrntcaprevent erosiona-prevent the pens 28' frombeing, converted into bogs, and to generally improve-the land.

From: theforaging, theconstruction and operation of theudeizicewill,berreadily understood-and furtherexplanation isibelieved to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 88211635 is:

1. A livestock pen layout comprising a closure fence enclosing a surface area, a plurality of spaced partition fences in said area each having itsoutermcst extremity at said closure fence and ;its.,innermostextremity disposed upon an arc of a circle in the area, pen gates hingedly connectingtheinnermost extremity of each of the partitionfences to the innermost extremity of the immediately adjacent partition fence, said pen gates, partition fences, and closure fence dividingsaid areainto a plurality of livestock pens each of which is coterminous-with a sector of a circle'clefined'by said" pen'ga'tes constituting a Working space separated from each of said pens by one of said penigatea-a segregation pocket disposed in said working space including a plurality of gate sectiohs'hi'ngedly connected together end-toend relation, the end gate sections of said pocket being hinged to the innermost extremities of av selected pair" ofadjacentpar-titionfences, the pen gate connecting said-selected pair of. partition fences comprising anend wah'of said pocket 2. A livestock pen layout comprising a closure fenceenclosing a surface area; a plurality of spaced partition fencesin said area each having ltS outermost extremity at said closure fence and itsinnermostextremity' disposed upon an arc. of.

a circle in the area," pen gates; hingedly connecting the innermost extremity .of each of the parti-. tion fences to the innermost extremity ofthe immediately adjacent partition :fence, saidv .pen gates, partition fences, and closure fence dividing said area into a plurality of livestock pens each of whichis' coterminous with a sector of. a circle" defined bysaid pen gates constituting a working space separated from each of said pens by one of 'saidpen gates; a segregation pocket disposed in. said working space including a plurality; of" gate sections hingedly connected together in end-to-end relation, the end gate sections of said pocket being hinged to the innermost' extremities of a selected pair of adjacent partition fences, the. pen gate connecting said selected pair-ofpartition fences comprising an end wall of'said pocket, the corners of said pocket being disposed on the radial center lines between nating .atthe; periphery of. the circular working area,pen.gates.hingedly connecting the innermost. extremity of each of the partition fences topthe. innermost extremityof the immediately l'acentpartition fence, said. pen gates defining a the substantially circular, periphery. of said working area, said pen gates, partition fences and closure fence defining a plurality of pens radiating from the working area, each being separated therefrom by a pen gate, the corners of said pocket being disposed on the radial center lines between the next adjacent fences on either side of those fences to which said end gate sections are attached, each of said gate sections being selec tively operable to open and connect said pocket with adjacent pens whereby livestock may be segregated between adjacent pens without interfering with the working area.

4. A livestock farm layout comprising a central, circular working area, a plurality of radially extending partition fences defining pens therebetween extending from said working area, the innermost extremities of said partition fences defining the boundary of said working area, pen gates hingedly connected to and extending between the innermost extremities of adjacent partition fences, a segregation pocket disposed in said working space including a plurality of gate sections hingedly connected together in end to end relation, the end gate sections of said pocket being hinged to the innermost extremities of a 2 selected pair of adjacent partition fences, the

without interfering with the working area.

JOHN R. MACDONALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,355 Erickson Mar. 14, 1893 1,708,098 Karley Apr. 9, 1929 1,744,692 I Wessel Jan. 21, 1930 1,848,690 Bayley et a1. Mar. 8, 1932 2,222,680 Morris et a1 Nov. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 401,964 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1933 

